NASSAU , Bahamas -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- John Travolta testified Wednesday that would-be extortionists threatened to go the media with stories implying `` the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable somehow . ''

John Travolta 's son died of a seizure in January at the age of 16 .

Travolta testified for the second time in a case against paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater . The defendants are on trial , accused of plotting to extort $ 25 million from Travolta after 16-year-old Jett Travolta died from a seizure in the Bahamas in January .

Travolta and his wife , actress Kelly Preston , entered the downtown Nassau courthouse Wednesday morning surrounded by security personnel . The actor took the stand appearing nervous , and he took a long , deep breath before beginning his testimony .

Travolta told the court a longtime employee of his became upset after learning someone was demanding money of the actor in the wake of his son 's death . The employee learned through the family attorney , Travolta said , that it was `` in regards to a paper I signed in the Bahamas . ''

In earlier testimony , one of Travolta 's lawyers , Allyson Maynard-Gibson , said Bridgewater approached her in the days after the January 2 death of Jett , saying she had a legal client who had a document Travolta might want . Bridgewater gave her copies of the papers , which included ambulance dispatch reports and a paper signed by Travolta releasing the ambulance company from legal liability , Maynard-Gibson testified . Watch In Session 's Ashleigh Banfield discuss case ''

The paramedic expected Travolta would pay millions to prevent publication of the documents because `` he would not want his name tarnished in media , '' Maynard-Gibson said .

Bridgewater told Travolta 's lawyer that her client believed the documents could suggest that Travolta was negligent by wanting to take his unresponsive son to his private jet for a flight to a Florida hospital , instead of going directly to a local hospital , she said .

In testimony last week , Travolta said a nanny found Jett unresponsive at the home on the island of Grand Bahamas , where the family was spending their New Year 's holiday .

Travolta said he initially told the ambulance driver to rush them to an airport where his private jet was parked . Travolta , who is a pilot , said he wanted to fly his son to a West Palm Beach , Florida , hospital instead of driving him to one in Freeport .

The paramedic , however , asked Travolta to sign a statement releasing the ambulance company from liability .

`` I received a liability of release document . I signed it . I did not read it . Time was of the essence , '' Travolta testified last week .

Travolta said that while he and his wife were riding in the ambulance with their son , they decided to divert to the hospital . At the hospital , Travolta was told his son `` was n't alive , '' he said .

On Wednesday , Travolta testified that he learned of a demand for $ 25 million or `` stories connected to that document would be sold to the press . ''

`` The stories would imply the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable somehow , '' Travolta said .

An attorney representing Bridgewater and Lightbourne asked Travolta if the defendants ever contacted or threatened him directly . Travolta said they did not , that he heard specifics about the situation through his attorneys .

Travolta 's testimony lasted only a short time . He was excused and is not expected to return to the witness stand .

One of the actor 's attorneys , Michael McDermott , took the witness stand Wednesday afternoon and began testimony about a videotaped meeting between him and one of the defendants .

The video is expected to be played Thursday for the jury .

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Travolta in court : Defendants used papers to imply negligence in extortion attempt

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Travolta : I signed waiver while considering alternative to area hospital for son

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Defendants thought consideration of alternative would imply negligence , lawyer says

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Travolta says two attempted extortion after his son , Jett , died